TDS Desk:

Reports of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s visa being extended by India have been dismissed by officials, citing her current legal status in India.

Several reliable sources in the Indian central government have clarified to that her situation does not necessitate an Indian visa or its extension.

TRAVEL DOCUMENT STATUS EXPLAINED

Although India’s Ministry of External Affairs officially said that Sheikh Hasina was granted temporary entry for security reasons on August 5, it has not disclosed her precise legal status.

However, previous reports suggested that Sheikh Hasina was issued a “travel document” (TD) by the Indian government.

This type of TD allows holders to travel internationally and function within the issuing country without the need for a separate visa.

Such travel documents are also issued to many Tibetan refugees residing in India, enabling them to travel abroad without Indian citizenship.

INSIDER PERSPECTIVES

An informed source in Delhi commented: “If Sheikh Hasina indeed holds a TD, there is no logical requirement for her to be issued or extended a visa, as the TD itself operates like a passport within the country that issued it.”

Alternatively, India might provide her with a long-term residency permit, which grants foreign nationals extended permission to stay on Indian soil.

“In either case, it makes little sense for a visa to be issued or extended in her situation,” the source added.

CONTRADICTORY REPORTS

Contrary to this understanding, The Hindustan Times recently reported that the Indian government extended Sheikh Hasina’s visa following requests from the Bangladesh government for her extradition.

According to the report, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs facilitated this process through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

This discrepancy between reports highlights ongoing ambiguity surrounding the exact nature of Sheikh Hasina’s legal status in India.